Camera.



T. TAMURA.

CAMERA. Arrucmou FILED APR. 3. 191s.

Pawn@ Muy 29, 1917.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

T. TAMURA.

CAMERA.

APPLlCATION FILED APH. 3. IBIS.

Patented May 29, 1917. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 129.3.

a C a G l i l I s; i l i i I l i i i L L l gwvenc! 'www' T. TAM URA.

CAMERA. v APPLICATION FILED APR. 3| 1916.

1,227,692. V ,Patented May 29,1917.

40 y 4l i l y g 9 4 as? I ff/Mfa N N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOKUIATSU TAHUB, 0F m0, NEVADA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ToKUMATsU TAMnizA, a subject of the Emperor ofJapan, residing at Reno, in the county of Washoe and State of Nevada,have invented new and useful Improvements in Cameras, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to cameras, and has particular reference tocameras of the film type wherein a film is wound on suitable spools andsucceive portions thereof are brought into osition to receive images ofthe objects piribtogr'aphed.

Some of the objects of my inventionare to provide a camera wherein thelens ma be properly focused to obtain a Vwell-de ned and clear-cutpicture; to provide means for protecting the sensitized sections of thefilm from light rays during the focusing of the lens preparatory totakingla picture; and to rovide a camera whic may be easily ocused andoperated and which excludes all light from the sensitized sections ofthe film.

ing a Iilm strip composed of alternate semitransparent and sensitizedilmstrip sections, and a camera with a-sight opening, preferably in itsbaclfrwall to permit the operator to focus the lens a focusing screensection ofthe filmV being brought into alinement with the sight openingso that it,may receive an image when it is desired to focus the lenspreparatory to' taking a picture. I provide a suitable closure or coverfor the sight opening which when closed efl'ectually excludes the lightrays from the sensitized film sections and the camera has light-eX-cluding devicesl along either side of the window o`r sight opening toprevent rays from aining access to the sensitized lsections of t e filmwhen the cover is not closed over the sigllit opening. i

he above and other objects of my inven` tion are 'obtained in thestructure described in the following specification, and illus- .tratedin the whereing l Figure 1 is an elevational view of my imvproved cameralooking toward the rear thereof.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the doors open to permit the operator tofocus thelens and throw an image u on one of the focusin screensectionsofK he film strip. 4

Fig. 3 is a view looking toward the rear of accompanying drawings, and

Specloation ot Letters Patent.

Application illed April 8, 1818. Serielle. 88,588.

My inventionoonsists generally in provid- Patented May 29, 1917.

removed,

the camera, the back late being strip being broken and a portion ofthe-fi awa Fig. is an insideelevationall view ofthe bach plate'or coverof the camera.

Fig. 5l is a, longitudinal sectional viewj through the camera, thefocusing mechanism being omitted, and the leather veneer or coveringbeing removed' from'the rear of thes camera. p

Fig. 6 is a sectional 6-6, Fig. 1.

Fig. l7 is a sectional view taken on line v iew-` takenV on line Fig. 8is en elevational view of the film surface of the film strip.

(Fig. 9 isan 'edgeview of the film strip.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals represent similar Vartsin the several views, 10 designates'v't e box or bod 'portionof thecamera which has] the ordinary hinged front cover 11 and partitions 12,which partitions form, as is usual, a central chamber for the ,bellows'13 and s ool- 80 receiving chambers at either' end o "the camera forthereception of's ools 14. It is to be understood, however,` t at thecamera may be of any desired shape'ortype, and

that I have shown the partlcular type disclosed by way of illustrationonly. The spools are mounted upon the usual' spindles extending throughthe sides of the body pori tin of the camera, and preferably I provideone of the spindles for eacli of the spools with an operating or turningkey 15, so that either of the spools may be rotated to withdraw the filmfrom the others ool.

' In the embodiment disclose one end of the camera ishinged as at 16, sothat access may be readily had tofthe spool chamber and the spooltherein, and this hinged portion has a spring plate or ejector 17zwhich, when the hinged portion is thrown into the o en osition shown inFig. 3, the spindles having edge of the ejector rests upon a shoulderformed by the partition 12 in such manner Ythat the spring ejector isbent or placed under tensionso that when the means which normally holdsthe hinged section 16 closed is released, such section sprin i position.Spring tongues or c asps 19 disposed inthe side walls of the box orcasing into open 11o are adapted to lock the hinged portion in closedposition.

The removable back cover or plate 20 of the camera has a central sightopenin substantially of the same length and, wi th as the film sectionsand in almement with the lens, and across the si ht opening extends aprotecting plate 21 of suitable transparent material, s'uch as mica, orthe like. The. protecting plate protects the film strip by preventingthe hands of the operator or the usual focusing cloth from coming intocontact therewith, and additionally it lends a pleasing appearance tothe camera. The plate ma be held in place in any suitable manner,- t, inthe present embodiment, retaining stri s 22 are ydisclosed as securedalong the e ge of the sight opening to the inside of the back plate. Itwill be noted that the' plate 21 1s provided with small holes 23, thefunction of which is to allow air to pass into the interior of thecamera when the bellows areA drawn into extended position, thuspreventing a suction action and the resultant distortion of the filmstrip.

For the purpose of closing the sight opening in the back plate of thecamera a palr of doors 24` are secured to the back cover of the cameraat either side of the sight opening by means of hinges -25 havingsprings 26, the doors being adapted to open under the influence of thespringswhen the lockl in meansfor retaining the doors closed is reeased. One of the 'doors is provided along its -outer edge with a stripor plate 27 which, when .the doors are closed, o'verlaps the outer edgeof the opposite door and thus light is prevented from leaking throughthe crack between the abutting edges of the doors. Within a latch plateor casing 28, mounted on the exterior of the back cover, is a latch 29comprising a U-shaped member having its ends normally extending into thepath of the swinging doors, a spring 30 being provided to normally holdthe latch in operative position. One or both of the doors may beprovided ,with the usual view openingBO to permit the operator todetei'mme by suitable' mark-4 ings upon the film when the latter is inproper position to receive an image, and the present showing the viewopenlng is back plate.

It is desirable t'o prevent light fromy passing through the rear of thecamera and into the spool-receiving chambers when the doors are open anda picture is being focused upon the semi-transparent focusing screensections of the film, and to prevent-such leakage of light, suitablemeans are provided for making the spool-receiving chambers light-tightduring this o eration. 4Secured on the outside of the bac plate20'adjacent 'is secured a finger-engaging member 85.

The Slide 32 lies in or extends through an opening or slot in the backplate 20 of the camera and the inner surface of the slide has serrationsor teeth 36, one edge of each of which is preferably at right angles tothe length of the-slide and the other edge is inclined thereto. Securedto the inside o f the back plate and extending throughout the width ofthe camera are transverse spring leaves or strips 37, to which areattached clamping strips 38. The latter are in alinement with the slides32 and have teeth or serrations 36 corresponding to those in the slidemembers but disposed oppositely thereto, so that the teeth of the twomembers mesh .or interlock. Upon moving the slide 32 by means of thefinger-engaging member, the teeth or serrations thereof, ride upon theinclined portions or surfaces of the teeth of the corresponding clampingstrip thereby forcing the latter strip away from -the back cover of thecamera and against the film, so that the latter is securely clampedbetween the clamping member and the overturned portions of thepartitions 12, and light is prevented from leaking or passing into thespace between the partitions and the inner surface of the back platewhen come inadvertently disengaged from the' doors, the doors could notopen, but when theA slide is moved to clamp the film strip against thepartitions the arm is moved therewith and out of the path of the doors(as shown i'n Fig. 2) and so the doors may be swung open to expose afocusing screen section of the' film and allow focusing of the lensthereon.

As heretofore stated, I provide a film strip composed of alternatesemi-transparent .and film sections. Referring to these figures, 40.designates the senii-transparent focusing screen portions or sectionswhich may be of waxed paper, clouded Celluloid, or the like, and betweenthese sections are interposed opaque backing` portions 41 having ICG its

mounted thereon film sections 42. The semi- .130

wound upon the spools. The focusing` naamw:4

transparent portions and the o aque, backing may be connected in anysuita le manner, in"

the present instance, paste being applied along the overla pin edgesofthe Same for this purpose, l he lsections-are secured tothe opaquebacking by means of flaps or strips 43 and 44, the strips 43 at one endof each film section being drawn tight or unfolded, while the strip 44at theother end of the `section is folded lor slack to prevent bucklingof the filmstrip `when the sameis screen portions are provided with.small air holes to prevent distortion of the film strip when a suctionaction is created by quickly `opening or extending-the bellows.

The operation of my improved. camera i V will be readily understood'fromthe foregoing description, it being evident that when it is desired tofocus a picture the spools are turned to ,bring a focusing .screensectionof y the film strip into alinement with the focusing window andthe lens. The slides 32 are loperated to revent light from passingthrough the sight opening and between the Iinner surfacef of the backplate and the paro section beneath the same and permit the optitions ofthe camera, and the doorsare then opened to expose the semi-transparentfilm erator to observe when the lens issuitably focused, the bellowsbeingextended or co1- lapsed to a position where a clear and Wellcutimage upon the .screen section is obtained. The doors 24 are thenclosed, and

the 'slides 32 operated toV release the fi1mstrip and move the arms overthe doors.

The spoolsare then operated to bring a sen- 'lis sitized film sectionintol positiony to receive a picture,` and as, the lens has previouslybeen moved to properly focus a picture on a screen section whichoccupied exactly the same position asthe sensitized section nowoccupies, the latter receives a clear cut and well defined image.

By providing sections of films, each sec-- tion being adapted to receivea 'picture and in securing the same to the opaque ,backing inthe mannerdescribed, any one yof said sections may be removed for development ifdesired, without injuring the remainder of `the roll of lms. When it isdesired to remove a portion of the. film strip, it'ds merely necessaryto operate the'slide 32 adjacent the hinged end of the camera tobringstrip against the film and then swing the hinged end into open positiontoA eject the spool. The opaque paper may have.

the clamp suitable indicia on'the back thereof which may` be observed bythe operator through the view opening, and the correct position of thelm determined thereby.0 If desired, a photograph may be taken upononehalf of the lilm section', and subsequently a 6g `secondpioture may4be taken on the other half, it being merely lnecessary to providespoolrecei fications which wouldbe within the spirit of y my inventionJwithout departing from the sco e of the following claims.

. at I claim is:.- v,

. 1.- In acamera, a body portion, a removable back having): sightopening, a semitransparent mem rclosing said sight opening on which -theobject to be photographed is adapted to be focused and e closure forlsind sight openinginge to said removable ack. if 2. In a camera, a body`rtion having a sight opening in theback t ereof, a focus` ing screenover the sight opening 4upon which aphe .the object to be photogr is'focused,

and a pair of opiositely swinging doors hinged to said bac andconstituting a closure for said sight opening.

3. In a camera, a body portionl having spool receiving chambers, aremovable back,

a sight opening in l,said removable' back, a`-

focusing screen over said sightlopenin a pair of opposite'ly swingingdoors secu to said removable back and constituting a closure for saidlsi ht o g, and means for retaining said oors in closed position.

'4.' In a'camera', a body portion havin a centralcha'inber, aspool-receiving cham r on either side .of said central chamber a back,and a hinged end portion constituting the Awall of one` of saidspool-receiving cham bers. i y O 5'. In a camera a body portion havingspool.` -receiving' ambers lat, its ppposite iid ends, a removable'back,a. hinged end porl tionconstituting the wall of one of said chambers,and means for retaining said hinged portion in closed positiom 6.. In acamera, a body portion having a chamber, a hinged end portionconstituting the inclosing wall of said chamber, and means on said hin dend for engaging the spool in said cham er to eject the same when thehingedi'end is thrown Openy spool-receiving chamber, a hinged-endportion constituting the inclosing wall of said bhamber, and a springplate on said hin end, for engaging the spool in said cham er to ejectthesame when the hinged end is thrown open. .Y

B. In a camera, a body portion having a 7. In a camera, a body portionhaving a l v ist ing, and ligh main chamber and a spool-receivin chambera sight o ening for said mam amber, an means or excluding light from thespool receiving chamber when said sight opening is uncovered.

' 9. In an camera, a body ortion having a central chamber and spoo-receiving cham-k bers at either side thereof, a sight opening in theback of the camera, a closure for said sight opening, and liht-excluding meansI for reventing light m assing into the spoo-receiving chambers w en saidclosure .is not in position over thesight-opening.

10. In a camera, a body portion having a central chamber and aspool-'receiving chamber, a sight opening at the back of said centralchamber a closuse for said sight open- -excluding means along one ed ligt from gaining access to said spool-receiving chamber when the closure1s open, said means being operable from without the camera.

11. In a camera, a body portion having a partition forming a mam,chamber and a spool-receiving chamber, a sight opening in said` camera,a focusing screen for said sight opening, a closure for said sightopening, a strip along one edge of the sightopensaid'strip against saidpartition to prevent.

Y lightfrom passing into said spool-receiving chamber when thesightopening is uncovered.VA V

13. In a camera, a body portion having a central chamber and a spoolreceiving chamber with a partition therebetween, a sight opening in theback of said camera, a. focusing screen for said -sight opening, aclosure for said sight opening, a strip secured to the inside of saidback and having serrations, and a slide operable from without the.camera and having serrations engaging the serratios of said strip, saidslide when operated being ada ted to depress the strip to close thespace tween the back of the camera and said partition.

14. In a camera, a-body portion having ay main chamber and aspool-receiving chamber, a sight opening in the back of the camera inalinement with said main chamber, a closure for said` sight opening,'a'guide plate,

la slide in said plate operablein an o ening in said back, alinger-engaging mem sege of said sight opening for preventing 'ing meansoperab cured to said slide, a strip within said back and secured theretoand lnterlocki serrations on said slide and strip, said sli e when movedlongitudinally being adapted to depress said strip to close the spacebetween the partition and the back of the camera.

15. In a camera, a 'body portion having a main chamber, aspool-receiving chamber, a sight opening inthe back of the camera inalinement with lsaid main chamber, a closure rfor said sight opening, aguide plate on the back of said camera, a slide in said guide plate, alinger engaging member connected to said slide and positioned on theoutside 'of said guide plate, a clamping device within said ack andsecured t ereto, coperative means on saidslide and clampingvdeviceadapted to depress said clamping device when said slide is moved,and an arm adapted to normally lie over said closure to retain the sameagainst accidental opening, said arm being adapted tobe moved from saidclosure when said slide is moved to operate said clamping device.-

16. In a camera, a body portion having a main chamber, a sgool-recelvingchamber, a sight opening in t e'back of the camera in almement with saidmain chamber, a' hinged door for said sight opening, light exclude fromwithout the camera for preventing light from passing into ,saidspool-receiving chamber when` the sight opening is uncovered, and meanson said light excluding means vconstituting` a safety latch ada ted tolie over said door when said light-exc uding means is in inoperativeposition and to be moved fromsaid door when the light-excluding means isin operative position.

17. In a camera, a body portion having a main chamber, a spool-receivingchamber, a hinged end constituting the inclosure wall of saidspool-receiving chamber and lightexcluding means between said mainchamber and spool-receiving chamber to prevent light from passing intosaid main chamber when said hinged end is thrown into open position.

18. `A camera having a main chamber and a spool-receiving chamber, asight opening for said main chamber with which the focusing screensections of a ilm strip are adapted to be brought into allnement toreceive an image for focusing the camera preparatory to taking apicture, and means for excluding light from the spool-receiving cham'berwhen said sight opening is uncovered.

19. A carnera having a body ortion ro- 'vided with'a main chamber lan aspoo -receivin Chamber, a sight opening at the back of sai main chamberwith which any one of the focusing screen sections of a film is adaptedto be brought into alinement to per-v mit focusing of the lens, aclosure for said sightr opening, and light excluding means lll 4alongone edge of said sight opening fior said sight opening,a strip on theinside of y said back, a spring leaf for securing said strip to .saidback,and a slide for moving said strip against said partition to preventlight from assing Vinto said spool-receiving chdmber wen the lightopening is uncover 21. A camera. having a body ortion ro vided with `a.main chamber an a -s poo rev-,

ceiving chamber, a' sight opening in the back of said camera inalinement with said main chamber and with which any one of the focusingscreen sections of the f lm are adapted to be brought into alinement topermit focusing of the lens, a closure for over said sight opening, a'guide plate,` a slide in said plate operable in any opening in saidback, a

finger-engaging member secured to said.

slide, a strip within'said back andsecured thereto and interlockingserrations on said slide and strip, said slide when moved longitudinallybeing adapted to depress 'said strip to close the space between thepartition and the back of the camera.

In testimony whereof Il have hereunto Set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses. f v

` TOKUMATSU TAMURA. Witnesses HARRY BRAINEN, y MAnoutmRrrn REINHART.

